Barry Dorf 🔜 GamesCom

Match3 is not the best game economy. I know some who would say it’s not even economy! Also, digital board games are just video games with terrible UX. Listen to the episode for more on these hot takes from me and the fellas.

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Dear Stretch Network Partners, Please allow me to inform you about additional changes that will take place in the global network on July 8. 🍀 All Heads-up tables will be removed 🍀 Badugi cash tables will be removed 🍀 Sonic cash tables will become 6-max 🍀 The minimum buy-in for Sonic Omaha cash tables will be 20 BB 🍀 Sonic Omaha 7 card cash tables will be added These changes apply only to cash tables and only to our Global Network. In your local networks, you decide your product strategy, but we would be happy to assist you in managing your local networks as well. If you need our help, please contact us. The above-mentioned changes are part of the new strategy for the Stretch Network Global Network, which prioritizes the comfort of novice players and casual traffic to maintain the proper balance of our ecosystem between amateurs and professionals. Caring for the ecosystem of the Global Network is our priority. The changes we are implementing now and will continue to implement will significantly improve the user experience for your players, extend their LTV, ARPU, and, of course, Revenue.

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Horrible news today about layoffs at Traega Entertainment, with 19 employees being laid off. Game Director Tony Mann shared their details here, if you are in the market for some amazing talent: https://lnkd.in/eJDgas_5 To those affected, please find a comprehensive list of resources, below: 🥇First, Discipline Games Jobs Resources: Over the past weeks I have created 8 (at time of writing) Games Jobs Resources to find jobs in a wide range of disciplines: 🎨 Art, Animation, VFX and UI: This resource contains around 1,200 jobs worldwide across all links. Link: https://lnkd.in/eu2bjadW ⚙ Engineering and Programming This resource lists just over 1,800 jobs worldwide across all links. It also talks about interview tips and questions to practice. Link: https://lnkd.in/eYdxANFM 🕹 Quality Assurance: This resource lists over 450 QA jobs worldwide. This post also talks about the craft of QA and contains tips and interview practice. Link: https://lnkd.in/dwwVjZuc 📑 Game Production: This resource lists around 400 jobs worldwide. It also contains info about game production as a whole and GDC talks. Link: https://lnkd.in/gxDvFM-Z 📢 Marketing & Community: This resource lists around 400 jobs worldwide. It also gives an intro into game marketing and community management. Link: https://lnkd.in/e5MuViug 🎶 Audio and Sound Design: This resource lists around 190 jobs worldwide. Link: https://lnkd.in/eSkPSsWf 📠 Studio Support, HR, Recruitment and BizDev: This resource lists around 290 jobs worldwide. Link: https://lnkd.in/ePG57_7v ⚙ IT, Helpdesk and DevOps: This resource lists around 140 jobs worldwide. Link: https://lnkd.in/e8ZsuiZh 🥈 Second, the Ultimate list of Video Games Career Resources: This should be your one-stop shop for all information. My dear friend Amir Satvat maintains these documents, he is a legend for doing this - please check them out: https://amirsatvat.com/ 🥉 Third, If you have worked in publishing, please message me. I am looking for quite a few roles right now! ⬅ 🎖 Finally, do not give up. Ever. No matter how dark things may look right now, I KNOW you will get through this, you have got this! 👊 Remember you are not alone. If you need help, advice, or even an ear to listen, we're here for you. Always! ➡ A request to my community, please can I ask you to repost this post to your colleagues and friends, so that we can get as many into jobs as possible! And please comment if you or your studio are currently hiring - let's help each other! Much love ❤️ #layoffs #gamesindustry #jobsingames #traega

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I really enjoyed this conversation with fellow Zynga alum Michael Martinez, founder & CEO of casual mobile studio FunCraft. In this episode of the Naavik podcast, we discuss how Michael built a $35 million revenue run rate company with not one, not 2, but now 3 hit games in the highly competitive casual word game genre on mobile. Some great lessons for any gaming entrepreneur, including: - Bigger is not always better: Funcraft's team size will surprise you! - Speed is of the essence: this is one advantage startups have over larger incumbents - Ad monetization works: Funcraft generates impressive ARPDAUs from ads alone and is able to do LTV-positive UA against them - Remote culture can be an asset: it opens up hiring globally - Failure provides valuable learnings: Michael talks candidly about the failure of his prior gaming startup, Juicebox Games, and what he's doing differently this time around Real talk, with lots of real metrics to benchmark against.

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At Liquid and Grit, our hiring testing system was inspired by Van Halen's playbook. You might have heard of the infamous "no brown M&M's" clause in Van Halen's concert contracts. While it sounds like a frivolous demand, it actually served as a clever safety check to ensure that stagehands had read and followed every detail of the contract, ensuring the safety of the band, crew, and audience. Similarly, our tests always include a few intentional mistakes or omit key information. This was our way of testing a candidate's diligence and attention to detail. We want to hire people who aren't afraid to go the extra mile, do additional research, and find solutions to problems on their own. The candidates we end up hiring are the ones who spot the issues, fill in the missing information, and demonstrate their commitment to thoroughness. They understand that the devil is in the details and that small oversights can have big consequences. Just like Van Halen used brown M&M's as a warning signal, we use these hidden tests to identify the candidates who have the right mindset and work ethic to thrive in our company. It's not about catching people out, but about finding those pearls who will go above and beyond. #hiring #recruitingtips #attentiontodetail #vanhalenmethod

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Live service updates in a narrative driven expansion? Now I’ve seen it all. The Elden Ring DLC, "Shadow of the Erdtree," received a "Calibration Update" to balance its difficulty. - Despite positive critic reviews, some players found it too difficult, resulting in mixed reviews on Steam. - The new update strengthens early upgrades in the Shadow Realm Blessings system, providing more damage and damage negation earlier on. - The final upgrades in the system are also slightly more impactful. - Future patches will include further balance adjustments and bug fixes. These changes should make the DLC's early stages less challenging.

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Calling Investors: Invest in the original Xbox “Duke” controller… I am working with a new gaming peripherals company set to take the world by storm and they are looking for investors to join the team. Founded by Duke Schnepf, son of gaming visionary, and Xbox founder, Brett Schnepf, backed by multiple founding fathers of the Xbox, this company is pushing the boundaries of the gaming peripherals sector. Their journey began with Brett Schnepf, a luminary whose contributions to gaming history are etched in stone. As a founding member of the Xbox console team, Brett's design prowess shaped modern gaming, with iconic creations like the Sidewinder PC controller and the legendary Duke controller. Today, Duke Schnepf carries forth his father's legacy. Upside and a half! In late 2024, a major streaming platform will release a series chronicling the founding of a pioneering gaming console (can you guess which one) and the launch of Duke's ground-breaking products, offering an intimate look at the visionary minds behind this revolution. Looking for investments of $10K, $20K, $50K, $100K, $250, $500K, and $1M. Higher investments with equity shares are available for discussion. We foresee full returns and profits delivered within 1 year. If you're interested in being part of this exciting journey, please get in touch to set up a call ASAP. #Gaming #InvestmentOpportunity #Innovation #GamingPeripherals #TechInvestments #gamedev #investors #angelinvestors #gameinvestor #PEinvestment #AngelInvestment

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How do I hire the best C and VP level candidates in Games & Entertainment? How do I get positions that pay million dollar plus salaries? Find the answers on the latest Deconstructor of Fun podcast (link in comment below) where I share my experiences of having led on some of the top searches in the world of Technology, Entertainment and Games. Was delightful to speak with Michail Katkoff, thank you for having Mission One on the show. We love the entertainment sector and hope this contribution helps companies make better hiring decisions, and individuals get the jobs that they want. Would love to hear feedback (what you agreed with, disagreed with, would like to hear more on etc), feel free to comment or DM me. #games #executive #hiring #entertainment #growth #csuite #podcasts

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I'm just gonna step out of the way...and let this trailer for Riot Games' & Netflix's Season 2 of Arcane do the talking. Just kidding...I have thoughts: "Final Chapter?!" - Why though? This series is deserving of much more (100% on Rotten Tomatoes, 9/10 on IGN Entertainment)...so hopefully the "chapter" they refer to is this specific arc (maybe the rivalry of Vi and Jinx?). Vi: "My sister is gone." Vi: "JINX!!!" Jinx: "...finally got the name right." They're not slow playing this one, are they? The November timing gives us all plenty of time to rewatch Season One. I could be imagining this, but the art style seems a little less "PTOW!" and a bit more mature. Don't get me wrong, I loved everything about S1 - especially the art (unique amalgam of a variety of comic/manga/game aesthetics)...but as the story gets more intense...and intentional...it would make sense for the art to narrow in a bit as well. We'll see...I don't expect to fully grok that from 91 seconds on YouTube...but I really liked what I saw. My expectations are very high now...and I'm not going to lower them. Setting myself up for disappointment? Maybe...but Fortiche Production has proven themselves...many times. You know those super cool videos from Gorillaz? Yup...those are Fortiche. For those of you worried that you need to be a League of Legends gamer (or even a gamer at all) to understand the story...you don't. I promise. Arcane is top-tier television. I put it up there with Last of Us and Fallout, in the game adaptation category. Alright...NOW i'll get out of the way and let the trailer do the talking. Enjoy!

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Are video games the future of entertainment? Yes, but... Also the NOW of entertainment. ◾ $57 Billion in US revenue ◾ $200 Billion in global revenue ◾ 3.09 Billion active videogame players ◾ Bigger than movies & music, combined. [Chart below from article on Sherwood News]

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One of the more interesting headlines that recently caught my eye was this one from Circana, as reported by Victoria Kennedy of Eurogamer. They attributed a 40% year-over-year drop in U.S. games hardware sales for May, in part, to the success of a single title: "The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom." This highlights how a game as monumental as Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom can still dominate the market to such an extent that it affects broader sales metrics. This phenomenon supports a trend we’ve extensively discussed: a small number of blockbuster games often capture an increasingly significant portion of players' time and attention. Despite the total number of releases each year, just on Steam, reaching the tens of thousands, the top 10 PC/console titles can easily consume 50% or more of all playtime. Furthermore, several studies, including one from Newzoo in November 2023, suggest that the top 66 games can account for 80% of playtime.

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Recap of Consensus 2024: why does this event exist? TLDR Thx for the BBQ, Austin! And it was great to meet up with old and new friends including EJ Ayala, Michael Dershewitz, Max Kaufman ⚡️, Erica Hamilton, Ron Cao, Colleen Sullivan, Alex M., Paul Thind, Dante Reminick, Parker Heath, Kiernan Fitzsimons, Conrad Sain, George V., Rodrigo Etcheto, Kelly DiGregorio, and more! In all it was a great time meeting with incredible partners. It's clear that: - Cloud compute and distributed hosting x web3 gaming has a lot of potential - Gaming-focused chains are ready to rock and roll, esp. powered by Sequence - Investments are increasingly sophisticated and focused on sustainability - Traditional gaming is headed into the space in droves, with strong teams with incredible backgrounds who truly understand gamers, data, A/B testing and more But Consensus, as with many generalist crypto or web3 events, is obsolete. Events in new industries are important, but as the space matures and consolidates, I'm not sure that there's a need for several days devoted to basic underlying technology. It's like going to Servers 2024! We all get it, we know what servers are, what they do. How this gets applied, what benefits it brings to developers, players, users, that's what matters. I'd love to see Consensus get a bit more serious around specific tracks or reconsider its focus.

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Game dev studios often hesitate to change their audio vendors. Let's face it: Bad experiences and trust issues abound. Here are 4 signs a new vendor should be on your radar👇 1. Barriers to fast communication 2. No longer getting the vendor's best people looking after you 3. Vendor's team is stretched thin - juggling 10-12 projects at one time 4. Quality of deliverables dropping and arriving late But before finding a new vendor. Ask... - Do you need to test them first. If so, how? - How will you integrate them. Preferred communication channels? - Is your project scope and schedule well defined? If you crave true collaboration, here's how to nail your audio outsourcing: 1. Get on a call early with the exact people you will be working with: - Business Development / Exec Producer - Production Manager / Producer - Casting / Voice Director - Post Production Lead 2. Look for a partner who offers more than competitive pricing: - Can they bring something different to the project? - Do they approach things in a unique way for improved outcomes? 3. Look beyond the portfolio: - Is the vendor the right size for your ambitions? Too big? Too small? - How are they structured? Owner operated or part of a group? - What does true collaboration mean to you? 4. Ensure seamless sync with your audio partner. - Aim for direct integration where possible. - Make them an extension, not an outsider. ---------------------------- You want to be the priority, not just another project in the pipeline. We get it. Communication frustrations, poor planning, bandwidth issues, and a lack of personal touch—sound familiar? Bigmouth is a creative audio studio for ambitious storytellers. We support game developers and animation studios who crave true collaboration and want to do things differently. Let us help you tell incredible stories and create unforgettable memories. Drop me a DM or explore our work at bigmouthaudio.com

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A fresh batch of recruitment news here

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I've seen this graphic of extreme wisdom posted a few times in a few places...but thought it would be appreciated by the game dev community here on LinkedIn as well. I can personally attest to only a few things on this chart, since my focus has largely been on the business and creative end of things (my technical skills end with typing)...but the placement of "ideas" as being the easiest part of the process... ...is 100% correct. Ideas are easy. They are. Your great idea for a game? Cool. It might be great...doesn't matter. Making it real is the hard part, and it's not even close. It's not in the same universe of difficulty. And it's not so much that the various things below are difficult...they are, and in most cases, you need the skills of specialists to do them well. The thing that elevates the upper tiers is really more about execution. ...and not just the ability to execute. It really comes down to the "want to." You're going to be told "no," a thousand different times in a hundred different ways. In fact, you probably shouldn't do...whatever it is that everyone is telling you not to do. A sane person would recognize and listen to the patterns...and pivot to something that is easier. You wind up doing it because you believe in it, regardless of the no's. Part of you...maybe...even ends up counting on the tears of those naysayers; the desire to show them all that you were right and they were wrong...or worse than wrong: that they just didn't have the vision necessary to see what you see. But that's some negative fuel...and while that might be a part of the driver, it's just an accent. The real motivation is seeing the idea become real...the path from "hey, what if we...." to "here it is, world." Here's to everyone out there, big company or small or fully independent...that is out there making some idea into a real thing. Credit: Matt Hackett (author of "How To Make A Video Game All By Yourself"): https://a.co/d/bYocsYN

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Neat chart by Jack Soslow - AR/VR revenues rival those of the creator platforms currently getting a ton of attention (and valuation). This isn’t exactly apples to apples but interesting to see the developer payouts have become substantial in spatial computing. (Also a lot less competitive for get a share of the pie in VR)

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Arrowhead Game Studios Helldivers II keeps getting better, and it's only the beginning. How they are doing it, and how you can too. The PvE co-op shooter continues to be a massive success with high and consistent player numbers with content such as: ➤ New major orders ➤ Weapons ➤ Stratagems ➤ Warbonds All working in conjunction to form a live service game with ongoing incentives to keep playing without ever being predatory, generating FOMO, with an excellent community to back it. How they did it: 🎮 Continuous Improvement: "Helldivers 2" constantly evolves with updates, enhancing every aspect of the game. 🎮 Narrative-driven Live Service: The game utilizes major orders to engage players in a dynamic narrative, shaping the game world collectively, something I would go so far as to say innovative. 🎮 Strong Gameplay Hooks: Major orders serve as global objectives, tying into the game's story and introducing new gameplay elements like mechs and weapons. 🎮 Inclusive Participation: Players are motivated to participate in major orders not out of fear of missing out, but because they want to contribute to the evolving story. 🎮 Balanced Gameplay and Community Dynamics: The game fosters cooperative play with diverse loadouts and roles, creating a vibrant and engaging experience for players. Happy players = a healthy and profitable game. Thank you Robert Wynne for the clip.

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